In Flames drops from the Oscars 2024 field
The anticipation surrounding the 96th Oscars ceremony has surged with the recent announcement of the shortlists in 10 categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. As per Variety Greta Gerwig’s inventive meta-comedy Barbie emerged as the frontrunner, securing five mentions across multiple categories, including sound, original song submissions from notable artists like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson, and Andrew Wyatt, as well as original score from the latter duo.
Additionally, Variety stated that a few predictable candidates cut the foreign feature category, with very few shocks. Well-known entries like Spain’s Society of the Snow and the United Kingdom’s The Zone of Interest remained in place.
Nonetheless, it was noted that two noteworthy submissions were missing: Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World by Romania and The Settlers by Chile. Most remarkably, In Flames, Pakistan’s official entry, was not selected for the shortlist.
Pakistan’s official Oscar
Pakistan’s official Oscar submission was decided by the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC). The terrifying horror picture directed by Zarrar Kahn and produced by Anam Abbas was selected to represent Pakistan.
The film, which debuted at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, tells a spooky story and is set in Karachi. After their father dies, a mother and daughter struggle with lives that have been upended and are haunted by both ghostly and physical beings. The only thing that can save them from the evil forces surrounding them is their relationship.
Along with executive producers Shant Joshi, Todd Brown, and Maxime Cottray, Anam Abbas was the producer. The movie was selected for XYZ’s New Visions roster, indicating their involvement with the project the year before.
PASC Chairperson, Mohammed Ali Naqvi
The PASC Chairperson, Mohammed Ali Naqvi, has already stated his great delight in choosing Pakistan’s official entry for the 96th Academy Awards’ International Feature category, In Flames. Naqvi underlined the film’s genius and its importance in bringing attention to the changing story of Pakistani cinema on the international scene.
Zarrar Kahn, the director, expressed his gratitude for Pakistan’s Oscar committee recognizing his film. While expressing gratitude for the tremendous reception from Pakistani viewers, Kahn acknowledged the difficulties encountered during local distribution in that country.
He underlined how the picture represented women in both its story and the strong team that produced it.
With praise from Cannes to TIFF, Sitges, Busan, and Red Sea, among other major film festivals, In Flames has struck a chord as a moving call to action. It highlights the cruelty of patriarchy, supports the tenacity of communities, provides comfort to the downtrodden, and reaffirms the enduring force of hope.
To support Pakistan’s cinematic representation on the international scene, the esteemed 2023 PASC jury which included notable figures from the industry like Ahmed Ali Akbar, Bilal Lashari, Fatima Bhutto, Fawad Khan, Frieha Altaf, Haya Fatima Iqbal, Madeeha Syed, Mehreen Jabbar, Nadia Afgan, and Saim Sadiqcarefully assessed the submissions. Despite not making the Oscar shortlist, In Flames is a compelling story that stands as a potent monument to Pakistan’s emerging cinematic talent.
